In The Good Books with Luke Bateman

From ride-or-die besties to deep, complex bonds, Luke explores the most memorable friendships which anchor the greatest fantasy novels and fictional worlds.
(00:00) Intro
(00:34) Listener Audio
(04:47) Friendships in Fiction
(07:12) Friendship #1: Locke and Jean from The Gentleman Bastard series
(11:57)Friendship #2: Jude and Willem from A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
(17:53)Friendship #3: Aman Jair and Arlen Bales from The Demon Cycle series
(22:27) The Importance of Friendship
(24:06) Share Your Friendship Stories and Favorite Fictional Friendships
We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at [email protected].
Follow all the action on our socials:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join The Good Books Club as Luke reviews Paullina Simons’ sweeping historical romance, The Bronze Horseman.
(00:00) Intro
(00:34) Listener Audio
(03:23) The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
(04:15) First Impressions
(06:18) The Setting: Leningrad, the Siege, and the War Hardship
(09:11) Tension in the Metanova Apartment
(10:26) The Love Story
(11:38) The Sexual/Romantic Writing
(13:40) Alexander's Character
(16:45) SPOILER: Alexander's Sacrifice and The Ending
(19:20) Final Takeaway
(21:05) The Next Book Club Pick: Moon Blooded Breeding Clinic by CM Ncosta
We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at [email protected].
Follow all the action on our socials:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Move over, Chosen Ones.
We're shining a spotlight on the fantastic but often overlooked side characters of fantasy who well and truly make the story.
(00:00) Intro
(00:34) Listener Audio: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
(04:33) Unsung Heroes in Fiction
(06:03) #1: Samwise Gamgee from The Lord of the Rings
(09:28) #2: Szeth-son-son-Vallano from Stormlight Archive
(12:49) #3: Night Eyes from Realm of the Elderlings
(16:41) The Importance of Unsung Heroes and Why We Relate to Them
(18:19) Share Your Favorite Unsung Heroes
We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at [email protected].
Follow all the action on our socials:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New year, new me... Right?
Luke shares the four most impactful non-fiction books to help you achieve personal growth, cultivate success, and change your mindset for a better 2026.
(00:00) Intro
(00:34) Listener Audio
(01:19) Book Recommendation: The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
(02:29) How to Become the Best Version of Yourself
(04:47) The Science of Stuck by Britt Frank
(08:21) Atomic Habits by James Clear
(11:24) The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
(15:40) The Second Mountain by David Brooks
(20:01) The 4-Book Wrap Up
(21:00) Make Reading Books A 2026 Goal
We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at [email protected].
Follow all the action on our socials:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Forget everything you know about magic.
From a deep dive into the incredible world-building to the unforgettable journey of Sabriel, Luke tackles Garth Nix's iconic fantasy series, The Old Kingdom Trilogy.
(00:00) Intro
(00:32) Listener Audio
(02:39) The Old Kingdom Trilogy by Garth Nix
(05:07) Initial Connection to the Series
(07:08) Sabriel by Garth Nix
(10:45) Lirael by Garth Nix
(15:03) Abhorsen by Garth Nix
(17:54) Encouragement to Read or Reread the Trilogy
(19:05) Call to Listeners: Share Your Takeaways
(19:50) Closing Remarks
We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at [email protected].
Follow all the action on our socials:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.